Final week, TV measurement hit a long-awaited milestone when Nielsen introduced that it’s going to cease providing panel-only rankings as a standalone foreign money providing later this yr.
Panel-based information will nonetheless be included into Nielsen’s mixed Massive Information + Panel providing, which sits within the Nielsen ONE measurement platform and consists of bigger information units from set-top bins and sensible TVs. The mixed information providing, which is Nielsen’s endorsed foreign money for this yr’s upfront season, gained Media Ranking Council (MRC) accreditation in January.
The MRC’s newest stamp of approval is a part of Nielsen’s quest to regain the business’s belief in its requirements after it first misplaced accreditation for nationwide and native rankings as a result of its alleged undercounting of audiences through the pandemic in 2021. Nielsen regained accreditation for nationwide TV rankings final April and now has accreditation for Massive Information + Panel. (It nonetheless lacks accreditation for native rankings.)
Within the meantime, Nielsen rivals like Comscore, VideoAmp and iSpot gained some footing as various currencies.
“The larger problem for Nielsen isn’t simply accreditation; it’s the elevated stress from rivals providing differentiated options,” stated Rachel Baker, SVP and head of investments and partnerships at Rain the Progress Company.
Advert patrons agree that Nielsen’s choice to pivot from panel-only rankings is a step in the precise route for TV advert measurement. However some additionally counsel it could be too late for Nielsen to get well the bottom it ceded to rivals over the previous few years. Nielsen may see “a gradual erosion of market share pushed by price issues and evolving purchaser preferences,” Baker stated.
Paramount, for instance, lately let its contract with Nielsen expire as a result of it considers the prices too excessive. As a substitute, the community leans on VideoAmp.
AdExchanger requested the consultants: How will the latest adjustments in Nielsen’s measurement choices have an effect on advert shopping for selections – together with the position of panels – this yr?
- Jay Friedman, CEO, Goodway Group
- Artem Peplov, VP of Analytics, Rain the Progress Company
- Nick Perez, Media Director, Exverus Media
Jay Friedman
Nielsen, like several good enterprise, is cannibalizing itself to attain higher relevance for its future. Consumers that also cling to an antiquated measurement system will probably be pressured to adapt, which can enhance competitors amongst video foreign money suppliers and modernize the way in which media patrons take into consideration video general.
Artem Peplov
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The shift to huge information as Nielsen’s main information set somewhat than legacy panels is about 5 years overdue. Panel information will now function a complement to the a lot bigger and extra sturdy information units from set-top bins and computerized content material recognition sources. The position of panels in Nielsen ONE will seemingly shrink over time, and I wouldn’t be shocked in the event that they’re ultimately phased out fully.
That being stated, we’re already working in a multi-currency world, with various measurement merchandise gaining traction. Media firms are attempting to work with whichever options their purchasers assume take advantage of sense, and there’s lots of competitors occurring available in the market.
Nick Perez
I feel this information is a step in the precise route for Nielsen. There’s an urge for food within the business to seek out new methods of measuring TV, particularly as a result of the TV area is simply getting extra fragmented.
I don’t assume Nielsen’s choice to cease providing panel-only foreign money later this yr will impression any shopping for methods through the upfront season, however it should seemingly reinstate religion in Nielsen’s means to successfully measure the TV area.
I additionally assume this information will probably be positively obtained by advertisers who’ve been ready for a extra trendy, up to date approach of measuring TV.
Solutions have been evenly edited and condensed.


